By Lydia | Last Updated
WinGet is one of the most useful command-line tools available for Windows users. Officially known as the Windows Package Manager, it allows you to search for, install, upgrade, and uninstall software using simple commands.
For example, instead of manually opening a browser, downloading an installer, and clicking through the setup process, you can install an app with a command like: winget install Google.Chrome.
But sometimes WinGet is missing, not recognized, stuck, or simply refuses to work.
You may see errors such as:
This guide explains how to install WinGet on Windows 11 and how to fix common WinGet problems.
WinGet, short for Windows Package Manager, is Microsoft's command-line package management tool for Windows. Its official Windows distribution vehicle is primarily the Microsoft App Installer.
To put it simply: App Installer supplies and hosts WinGet, which enables the winget command‑line utility. Additionally, it handles installation functionalities for Windows application packages such as .appx and .msix files.
It can help you:
Should WinGet malfunction, repairing or reinstalling Microsoft App Installer may resolve the issue.
Note:
Before installing or repairing WinGet, check whether it is already available.
Step 1: Open Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt. Run it as the administrator.
Step 2: Run this command: winget –version. If WinGet is working, you should see a version number.
If the command displays a list of available WinGet commands, it is installed correctly.
If Windows says that winget is not recognized, continue with the solutions below.
You can redownload the App Installer from BITS online services so as to reinstall or fix WinGet.
Step 1: Open Windows PowerShell as the administrator.
Step 2: Run the below command lines to download mandatory dependencies for WinGet.
Start-BitsTransfer -Source "https://github.com/microsoft/winget-cli/releases/latest/download/DesktopAppInstaller_Dependencies.zip" -Destination "$env:TEMP\DesktopAppInstaller_Dependencies.zip"; Expand-Archive "$env:TEMP\DesktopAppInstaller_Dependencies.zip" "$env:TEMP\winget-deps" -Force; Add-AppxPackage "$env:TEMP\winget-deps\x64\*.appx"
Step 3: Minutes later, you can run the below command lines to download and install WinGet via BITS.
Start-BitsTransfer -Source "https://github.com/microsoft/winget-cli/releases/latest/download/Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle" -Destination "$env:TEMP\winget.msixbundle"; Add-AppxPackage "$env:TEMP\winget.msixbundle" -ForceApplicationShutdown
Step 4: Run the command line: winget –help to have a check.
Sometimes WinGet is installed, but an outdated version of App Installer causes problems. You can update it from Microsoft Store.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Store. Go to Library.
Step 2: Check for updates. Click Get updates to allow Windows to update App Installer.
After the update finishes, restart your terminal and run: winget –version. If WinGet still does not work, try repairing or resetting App Installer.
If WinGet was previously working but suddenly stopped, the App Installer package may be damaged.Windows allows you to repair or reset the application.
Step 1: Open Settings, go to Apps > Installed apps.
Step 2: Find App Installer. Click the menu next to App Installer and select Advanced options.
Step 3: Click Repair. Then Windows will attempt to fix the application without removing its data.
One of the most common problems is this message: 'winget' is not recognized as an internal or external command,operable program or batch file.
Or in PowerShell: winget : The term 'winget' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet.
This usually means one of the following:
Windows uses App Execution Aliases to make certain commands available from the command line.
Step 1: Open Settings. Use the Settings search box and search: App execution aliases.
Step 2: Look for entries related to App Installer. Make sure the aliases are turned on.
Step 3: Then close your terminal, open a new one, and run winget –version to have a check.
If WinGet is installed but corrupted, you may be able to fix it by re-registering the App Installer package.
Step 1: Open PowerShell as Administrator..
Step 2: Then run:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller | Foreach { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml" Step 3: Wait for the command to finish. Then close PowerShell and open a new terminal window. Check WinGet again: winget –version. If the command works, the App Installer registration was likely the cause of the problem.
Once WinGet is working, you can use it to manage software from the command line.
| Task | WinGet Command | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Search for an application |
winget search Chrome
|
Search for available packages related to Chrome. |
| Install an application |
winget install Google.Chrome
|
Install the specified application using WinGet. |
| Install a specific application by ID |
winget install --id Google.Chrome
|
Install an application using its exact package ID to help avoid selecting the wrong package. |
| Check available upgrades |
winget upgrade
|
View applications that have updates available. |
| Upgrade a specific application |
winget upgrade Google.Chrome
|
Update the specified application to the latest available version. |
| Upgrade all supported applications |
winget upgrade --all
|
Update all installed applications that are supported by WinGet. |
| Uninstall an application |
winget uninstall Google.Chrome
|
Remove the specified application from your computer. |
| View installed applications |
winget list
|
Display a list of applications installed on your computer. |
| Problem | Possible Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
winget is not recognized
|
WinGet is missing or the alias is disabled | Install or update App Installer and check App Execution Aliases. |
| WinGet suddenly stopped working | Corrupted App Installer | Repair or reset App Installer. |
| WinGet cannot find an app | Outdated or damaged sources |
Run winget source update or winget source reset --force.
|
| Microsoft Store cannot install App Installer | Store or Windows issue | Update Windows, reset Microsoft Store, or manually install App Installer. |
| WinGet commands fail after installation | Terminal session is outdated | Close and reopen Terminal or restart Windows. |
| App Installer is installed but WinGet does not work | Package registration problem | Re-register App Installer using PowerShell. |
| Multiple Windows components are malfunctioning | Corrupted system files | Run SFC and DISM to scan and repair corrupted Windows system files. |
Q1: Is WinGet included with Windows 11?
WinGet is commonly available on Windows 11 through Microsoft's App Installer package. If it is missing, updating or reinstalling App Installer usually restores it.
Q2: Why is winget not recognized?
The most common reasons are that WinGet is not installed, App Installer is corrupted, the App Execution Alias is disabled, or you need to open a new terminal session.
Q3: Do I need to restart my computer after installing WinGet?
Not always. Usually, closing and reopening Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt is enough. However, restarting Windows can help if the command is still not recognized.
Q4: Is WinGet safe to use?
WinGet is Microsoft's Windows package manager. However, you should still verify the application and package you are installing, especially when multiple packages have similar names.
If you need to install or fix WinGet, the first thing to check is the App Installer package. You can learn several ways here to make WinGet back to normal. Once it is working, WinGet provides a fast and convenient way to install, update, and manage software on Windows 11.
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